Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~93~Z4
PHN 8591
The invention relates to an electric gas discharge
lamp having a tubular ceramic discharge vessel which is closed
at at least one end with a ceramic end plug which extends to
outside the end in the axial direction of the discharge
vessel. Our Canadian Patent 885,060 which issued on November
2, 1971 discloses such a lamp.
With gas discharge lamps which have a high operating
temperature - for example 1000C or higher - the discharge
vessel consists of ceramic material; this material may be both
crystalline material (such as transparent densely sintered
aluminiumoxide) and monocrystalline material (such as sapphire).
The discharge vessel is usually closed by ceramic end plugs;
they may, for example, be connected vacuum-tight to the tube
wall of the discharge vessel by means of a fusible ceramic or
by sintering. A current-feedthrough component of the electrode
is included in the end plug, for example by means of a fusible
ceramic. Such current-feedthrough components preferably con-
sist of a metal having a linear coefficient of expansion which
is approximately equal to that of the ceramic material or
deviates only little therefrom such as niobium or, if the
thickness of said current feedthrough element is not chosen
too great, molybdenum.
The discharge vessel is supported within an outer
bulb by means of so-called pole wires, the ends of which are
situated, for example, in the pinched feet of the bulb. The
pole wires which generally also perform the function of current
supply leads are connected electrically conductive by means of
suspension strips to the current feedthrough elements of
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336Z'~
PHN 8591
the electrode, which elements slightly extend from the lamp ves-
sel such as, for example, disclosed in the above-mentioned
Canadian Patent. Such a suspension imposes special requirements
on the mechanical strength of the current feedthrough element,
particularly when rather vulnerable feedthrough elements of moly-
bdenum are used. In the production of the lamp great care is
therefore necessary as deformation and fracture of the current
feedthrough elements may easily occur.
United States Patent Specification 2,951,959 which issu-
ed to Westinghouse Electric Corp. on Sept. 6, 1960 discloses a
discharge lamp wherein the mechanical suspension of the discharge
vessel is separated from the electric supply lead of the elect-
rode by fitting a non-conductive suspension strip around the dis-
charge vessel. Such a construction has, when discharge tubes of
ceramic are used, the drawback, that owing to the shrinkage and
expansion of the discharge vessel stresses occur near the place
where the suspension strip and the discharge vessel contact one
another which may even result in fracturing of the wall of the
discharge vessel. In addition, the heat behaviour in the dis-
charge vessel is negatively affected.
It is an object of the invention to provide a dischargelamp wherein the discharge vessel is secured in the lamp in such
a way that the above-mentioned drawbacks are obviated.
A gas discharge lamp of the type mentioned in the pre-
amble has an end plug which extends to outside the end in theaxial direction of the discharge vessel and is characterized in
accordance with the invention in that the outside diameter of
the projection portion of the end plug is not greater than 90~
of the outside diameter of the discharge vessel adjacent the end
plug, the projection portion being provided with a suspension
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~0936~4 PHN 8591
element of the discharge vessel.
Round the constricted, extending portion a suspension
element can be easily applied without affecting the heat behav-
iour in the discharge vessel. A construction according to the
invention offers the possibility, by allowing a small clearance
between the projection portions of the end plugs and the sus-
pension strips the discharge vessel can be allowed slight move-
ment both in its longitudinal direction and in its transverse
direction so that the influence of the expansion and the shrink-
age is further mitigated. In a lamp according to the inventionthe suspension means of the discharge vessel may be separated
from the current feedthrough element of the electrode. The cur-
rent feedthrough element of the electrode which is present in
the end plug may, owing to the above-said separated suspension
and current supply functions, consist of a pin or wire of a
small diameter as is especially the case when metals are used,
whose coefficient of expansion slightly deviates from that of
the ceramic material. An example of such a metal is molybdenum.
In an embodiment of a gas discharge lamp according
to the invention the end plug comprises at the end which
faces away from the discharge vessel a thickened portion which
contacts the discharge vessel. The thickened portion which
consists of a piece of ceramic material which is sintered to the
end plug prevents sagging of the cover element in the discharge
vessel during production of the lamp.
The current feedthrough element of an electrode,
present in the end plug may, for example, consist of a tube of
niobium, tantalum, tungsten or molybdenum or alloys thereof,
or of a rolled-up foil as described in our Canadian Patent
1,041,591 which issued on October 31, 1978.
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PIlN 8591
18.7.1977
1~)93~Z4
An embodiment of a lamp according to the invention
wherein a current feedthrough element of an electrode is
present in the end p]ug and projects from the end plug bxternal
to the vessel, is characterized in that the current f`eedthrough
element is provided on its projecting portion with positioning
means for directly or indirectly supporting the end plug.
This has the advantage that the position of the electrode during
fabrication of the lamp can be- accurately adjusted to the
proper distance from the end plug. Namelyl when the current
feedthrough element is applied in the end plug by means of
a sealing glass, the positioning means enables the element to
be accurately located in the end plug.
In accordance with the invention such positioning
means may, for example, be a wire wound helically around
the projecting portion of the current feedthrough element.
In another embodiment the positioning means may be a radially
extending flange fitted to the current feedthrough element.
In a special embodiment in which the current feed-
through element is a conductor in the form of a wire the
positioning means is formed by the end of the current feed-
; through wire which is bent towards the discharge vessel and
which bears on the end of the complete discharge vessel
assembly, for example, be the end plug or the discharge vessel
itself. With such a construction the current-carrying wire
which connects the current feedthrough element to the resu~ting
loop can be connected in a simple manner to the outside of
the discharge vessel.
The invention will be further exmplained with
reference to a drawing in which:
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PHN 8591
18.7.1977
~0936Z4
Fig. 1 shows a discharge ]amp according to the
invention and
Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive show a longitudinal
section through one end of a discharge vessel.
In Fig. 1 reference 1 indicates a ceramic discharge
vessel of a 400 W high-pressure halide discharge lamp.
Reference 2 indicates the outer bulb of this discharge lamp.
Reference 3 indicates the lamp base. References 4 and 5 indicate
' the pole wires. In situ of the end plug the discharge vesse]
is suspended-at the extending ceramic portions 6 and 7
respeFtively by means of strip-shaped suspension elements 8
and 9 respectively,. These strip-shaped elements are formed
as strips of material which surround the reduced diameter
projection portion of the end plug which extends outside the
discharge vessel with some clearance. The discharge vessel 1
' is then suspended in a slightly movable manner, that is to
' say the vessel can move slightly between the suspension
strips 8 and 9 without being able to free itself from these
strips because of the larger diameter of the discharge vessel.
The current feedthrough elements 10 and 11 respectively are
connected by means of current lead wires 12 and 13 to the pole
wire.s.
In Fig. 2 reference 20 indicates a portion of-the
discharge vessel 1 of Fig. 1. This discharge vessel is made of
transparent gas-tight densely sintered aluminium oxide.
Besides a halide the filling of the vessel contains for
example an iodide, also mercury and a starting gas, for
example argon. Reference 21 indicates an electrode which is
electrically connected through a tungsten bar 22 to a current
30 feedthrough element 23. This current feedthrough element con-
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~09362~ 2-9- 1977 -
sists of a rolled-up foil of molybdenum having a thickness of
50 /u and is fastened by means of sealing glass to the ceramlc
end plug 24 which is fastened by means of sealing glass to an
annular second ceramic preform 25 which is here assumed to
form part of the discharge vessel 20 and is sintered thereto.
The portion of the end plug which extends to outside the dis-
charge vessel is provided with a collar 26 which bears against
the portion 25 of the discharge vessel 20 and contacts the
discharge vessel and which consists of a ceramic ring which
is sintered to 24 to form a T-shaped end plug. The entire
outside diameter of the portion of the end plug which pro-
jects beyond the end of the discharge vessel amounts to ap-
proximately 600~o of the outside diameter of the discharge
vessel adjacent the end plug. Connected to the current feed-
through element 23, which projects outwardly of the discharge
vesse] from end plug 24, 26, is a wire helix 27 resting on
the end plug. The hollow cylindrical current feedthrough
element 23 is filled up on the inside with a ceramic preform
28 but it is alternatively possible to use a fusible ceramic
or a suitable sealing glass for this purpose.
In ~ig. 3 the discharge vessel, which slightly
tapers, is indicated by 30. The ceramic end plug is indicated
by 31 and has the form of a T. The current feedthrough element
of the tungsten electrode 32 consists of a molybdenum pin 33
having a diameter of not more than 600 /um. A transverse
flange 34 is provided on this pin the outside the discharge
vessel abutting end plug 31 to provide a means for position-
ing the electrode with respect to end plug 31 during assembly.
~0936~ PHN. 8591.
, 2-9-1977-
:
In ~ig. 4 the ceramic discharge vessel is indicated
by 40. In the annular rim 41 which is connected by means of
sintering to the discharge vessel an end plug 42 is disposed
in which a wire-shaped molybdenum current feedthrough element
43 having a diameter of approximately 600 /um for the tungsten
eiectrode 44 is disposed. The current feedthrough element 43
is resting on the end plug 42 by bending its end. Optionally,
the element also can rest directly on the piece 41 of the dis-
charge vessel. In the opening 45 thus obtained there is room
for a connection of the currents lead wire to the pole wire.
The outside diameter of the extending portion 46 of the end
plug 42 which is fitted to the cover piece 41 by means of a
sealing glass amounts to approximately 40% of the outside
diamter of the discharge vessel 40. A suspension strip 47 is
applied with some clearance around this projecting portion 46.
- In the foregoing embodiments the outside diameter
of the projection portion of each end plug may be increased
to, but not beyond 90% of the outside diameter of the dis-
charge vessel.
.
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